LIMA, PERU – OCTOBER 17: Lionel Messi of Argentina warming up during FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Peru and Argentina at Estadio Nacional de Lima on October 17, 2023 in Lima, Peru. (Photo by MartÃn Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Argentina and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has made a final decision about returning to Europe in the future.
The World Cup winner was back in the French capital this week to collect his eighth Ballon d’Or, beating out competition from Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Messi was heavily linked with a return to Barcelona after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last season, but the Argentine has now revealed he is done with Europe.
Read: Pep: How Haaland Reacted To Losing Ballon d’Or To Messi
“Yes. Thanks to God, I had an extraordinary career in Europe and won everything I have dreamed of,” Messi told L’Equipe.
“Now that I have decided to come to the USA, I don’t think I will ever return to playing in Europe.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also opened about why he didn’t return to the Camp Nou in recent years.
“I could have returned, but it wasn’t like that. It was something similar to what happened in 2021.
“It was very similar to having to go to Paris [Saint-Germain] in 2021.
“I thought about returning to Barca, about my life there, about retiring there as I always wanted, but it wasn’t possible.”
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